ムッと

• Reading: むっと
• Romaji: mutto
• Pronunciation: /mɯt.to/

Meaning

To be offended; to get annoyed; to feel a flash of irritation. Also describes stuffy, stifling air.

An adverb/suru-verb onomatopoeia with two main meanings. First, emotional: ムッとする (feel a sudden flash of anger or annoyance) — a brief, contained reaction, not a full outburst. Second, sensory: ムッとする暑さ (stifling/oppressive heat). The emotional meaning is more common. Written in katakana to emphasise its mimetic quality.

Examples

1. 失礼なことを言われてムッとした。 I got annoyed when they said something rude to me.
2. 部屋を閉め切っていたのでムッとする暑さだった。 Because the room had been shut up tight, the heat was stifling.
3. 冗談のつもりだったが、彼女はムッとした表情を見せた。 I meant it as a joke, but she showed an irritated expression.

Usage Guide

Context: emotions, weather, daily life

Tone: negative

Origin & History

A Japanese mimetic word (擬態語). The っ (geminate consonant) conveys the sudden, compressed nature of the feeling — a sharp pang of irritation that wells up but is held in.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal